Adjustable bridge for bifocal lenses



Ndv. 12, 1935. A. o. YOE 2,020,629

ADJUSTABLE BRIDGE FOR BIFOCAL LENSES FiledF'eb. I, 1935 2 SheetsSheet 1Nov. 12; 1935. A. o. YQE 2,020,629

ADJUSTABLE BRI DGE FOR BIFOCAL LENSES Filed Feb. 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Shet 2y MW flZp/uw O. Ybe,

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES wi h REISSUED PATENT oFFicEADJUSTABLE BRIDGE roe BIFOCAL LENSES 12 Claims.

This invention relates to spectacles or eyeglasses, and particularly toan adjustable nose bridge for use with bifocal lenses.

' Bifocal lenses such as are used in spectacles and eyeglasses wereoriginally made by cement ing into the lower portion of the rims a lenshaving a different focal length from the upper portion. More recently ithas become the general practice to form both lenses from a single pieceof optical glass and to grind the lower portion thereof so that it has adifferent focal length from the upper portion of the lens. Such lensespresent a more sightly appearance, as the line where the separate lensesof different foci were cemented together is eliminated.

Bifocal lenses as now commonly made have the lens of shortest focus,generally termed the reading lens, at the bottom, and the lens oflongest focus, or the distance lens, at the top. As the distance lens isthe one normally used and the reading lens is used only when one isreading, it

' is the usual practice'to make the distance lens of a larger area thanthe reading lens and when the glasses are worn it lies opposite the lensof the eye and imparts no additional strain-on the eye due to itsposition with respect to'the lens of the eye. However, the reading lenslies below the level of the lens of the eye, which necessitates that the1 wearer, when reading, look downward; so that the angle'of vision isnot normal and additional strain is placed upon the eye.

It has heretofore been proposed to overcome,

the'above objection to the use of bifocal lenses by providing a nosebridge which might be shifted in either of two positions, so as tobring. either the reading lens or the distance lens opposite the lens ofthe eye of the wearer, so that no additional strain is placed upon theeyes, regardless of which lens is being used. Such proposals, whilesatisfactory from the standpoint of eliminating additional eye straindue to an abnormal ,angle of vision, have been objectionable in that ithas been necessary to remove the eyeglasses or spectacles from'the facein order to adjust the bridge to bring the other lens oppositethe lensof I the eye.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed by thepresent invention to provide an adjustable nose bridge for use withbifocal lenses which may be adjusted readily to bring either; lensopposite the lens of the eye, without removing the eyeglasses orspectacles from the face, and which will be of relatively simplestructure and present a sightly appearance. More particularlyythepresent invention comprises a bridge piece carrying the usual nose padsat its lower end and a member which is secured rigidly to and connectsthe inner edges of the lenses and is slidably mounted with respect tothe member carrying the nose pads. The two members bear against eachother, or an interposed spring member, with sufl'icient force to causethem to be retained frictionally in either of their adjusted positions.However, the members may be shifted relative to each other merely byovercoming the friction between the respective parts. i

In order that the lenses may be shifted upwardly or downwardly while thespectacles or eyeglasses are on-the face of the wearer, thememberrigidly attached to the lenses preferably comprises a pair ofspaced, horizontally-extending bars, or one bar and a projectionextending horizontally from one or both sides of said member, and themember which carries the nose pads has a horizontally-extending barlocated between the spaced bars of the slidable member. With such anarrangement, to shift the relative position of the lenses it is onlynecessary that the cross bar of the pad-carrying member and one of thecross bars of the member which carries the lenses be engaged with thethumb and index finger and sufiicient force exerted on them to overcomethe sliding friction between the parts to cause the cross bar of thelens-carrying memher which has been gripped to move towards the crossbar of the nose-pad-carrying member, If

with the thumb and the cross barof the padcarrying memberis engaged withthe index finger. When the parts are then pinchedtogether thelens-carrying member slides upwardly on the pad-carrying member and thelenses are raised to a position where the reading lens, lies oppositethe eye. If it is subsequently desired to shift thelenses back fordistance vision the cross bar of the pad-carrying member is engaged withthe thumb and the upper bar of the lens-carrying member engaged with theindex finger. When ftheparts are then pinched together the lenscarryingmember slides downwardly on the padcarrying member and the distancelenses are again brought opposite the lenses of the eye.

The invention will be further described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that such furtherdisclosure to the extent set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a-pair of. spectaclesembodying the invention, being viewed from the side through which thewearer looks and showing'the bridge adjusted to the position so that thelower lens will be opposite the lens of the eye. f

Fig.2 is a similar view to Fig. l, with the bridge adjusted so that theupper lens is brought opposite the lens of the eye, Fig. 3 is a planview of Figs. land 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontalcross sectional view takenon line 4-4 of Fig. l. y Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through theadjustable bridge.

Fig. 7.is a perspective view of that portion of the bridge to whichthealenses are secured.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view partly in section of a modified form ofadjustable bridge.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view partly in section of another modifiedform of adjustable bridge, and

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line H-IlofFig. 10. f

Referring to the drawings, and first to the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 7, the adjustable bridge is shown as applied tospectacles having bifocal lenses" having upper and lower lens portions land 2 which are ground to have different foci. As is usual in bifocallenses,

I the upper lenses I normally lie opposite the lenses of the eye and areground to have a longer focal length than the lower lenses-2 and areadapted for distant vision; The lenses 2 are ground to have a shorterfocal length and are the normal reading lenses. Temple bars 3 aresecured to the outer edges of the lenses by means of the usual lensstraps t. l

The adjustable. bridge comprises two relatively slidable parts 5 and B.The part5 comprises a pair of vertically extending bars I which carryadjacent their lower ends lens straps 88 for securing the bridge part 5rigidly to the respective lenses. The vertically extending bars I areconnected together by a pair of vertically spaced, horizontallyextending cross-bars 9 and lil, one of which preferably connects theupper ends of the vertical bars 1 and the other of which extends betweensaid bars in the region of thelens straps 8. In order that the bridgemember 5 may gen--' erally conform to the contour of the wearer's facewhen the spectacles are being worn, the upward- 1y extending bars I arepreferably curved longitudinally outwardly so that they will lie closeto thatportion of the face where the upper part of the nose joins thelower portion of the forehead,

and the horizontally extending cross-bars 9 and ID are curved outwardlyto better fit around the bridge of the nose. l

The bridge member 6 preferably comprises a generally U-shaped memberhaving vertically ex,- tending legs II and a cross-bar l2 connectingtheir upper ends and curved outwardly in the same manner as thecross-bars 9 and II) of the member 5 to generally conform to the shapeof the wearer's nose. Bridge pads l3, adapted to bear against oppositesides of the nose and to support the spectacles upon the face, arecarried by either of their positions of adjustment.

the respective legs of the U-shaped member 6. s

- Iii order that the bridge. members 5 and 5 may readily slide relativeto one another, the inner sides of the vertically extending bars 'l andthe outer sides of the legs ll of the U-shaped mem- 5 her are providedwith complementary frictionally-engaging track portions. The particularshape of the complementary track portions of the bars member 6 bearagainst the inner sides of the vertically extending bars of the member 5with sufllcient force to normally cause the members 5 and 6 to be heldin anyrelatlve' position; yet they may be slid relative to one anothermerely by 20 overcoming the friction between them. There are no latchesor catches which must be disengaged before they may be shifted to adifferent position of adjustment.

The cross bar I2 of the U-shaped member 6 lies 28 I betweenthevertically spaced cross bars 9' and Ill of the member 5 and has a fingerpiece ll extending forwardly a distance sufficient to lie in a planepassing through said bars.

In Fig. 2 the spectacles are shown with the 30 parts 5 and 6 shifted sothat the upper or distance lenses I would lie opposite the lenses of theeyes when the spectacles are placed upon the face. If it should bedesired to shift the spectacles to the position shown in Fig. 1 in whichthe lower M3 5 reading lenses 2 would be positioned opposite the lensesof the eyes, it would only be necessary that the thumb be placed beneaththe crossbar Ill and the index finger placed above the cross bar l2and/or its protruding finger piece H and them parts then pinched towardseach other. When that is done the member 5 will slide upwardly on thelegs ll of the rnember 6 and the parts will beshifted to the desiredposition of adjustment with the reading lenses opposite the lenses 45 ofthe eyes, and the wearer may use the spectacles for reading purposeswithout subjecting the eyes to additional strain caused by an abnormalangle of vision.

shift the relative positions of the lenses I and 2 so that the distancelenses I 'would again lie opposite the lenses of the eyes, it would onlybe necessary that the thumb be placed beneath the cross bar I 2 and/orits protruding finger piece I 4, and 55 the lndexfinger placed above thecross bar 9, and. the parts pinched towards each other. The member 5will then be caused to slidedownward- 1y on the legs ll of the member 6and the bridge members again brought into the position shown in Fig. 2.

positions of the members 5 and 6 to bring either the distance or thereading lenses opposite the lensesof the eyes, it is not necessary thatthe spectacles be removed from the face, and due to the frictionalengagement of the legs ll of the U-shaped member 6 with the verticalbars I of the member 5 the members will be maintained in In Figs. 8 and9 a. modified form of the invention is shown in which the bridge memberl5 has a pair of vertically extending bars l6 and a pair of verticallyspaced, horizontally extending, connecting cross-bars l1 and I8. Trackmembers aoaaeae i 9 in the form of resilient springs are attached to thebars 66 of the member it in such manner that they have at least one freeend. While, as shown in Fig. 8, the spring track members it are brazedor otherwise secured at their upper ends to the inner sides of the barsit, the spring track members may, if desired, be secured at a mid pointand have both their upper and lower ends free. The spring tracks it mayhave any desired cross sectional shape, but are preferably circular incross section as is shown in Fig. 9.

The nose-pad carrying member 2d, like the corresponding member in theembodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7, comprises a pair of verticallyextending bars 25 having track sections at their outer sidescomplementary to the spring track members ill, and a cross bar 22connecting the vertically extending bars 2i and positioned between thecross-bars ill and it of the bridge member ita The free ends of thespring track members it are sprung inwardly so that they bear againstthe complementary track portions of the bars 24 with sufiicient frictionto retain the members,

it and 20 in any relative position of adjustment. The manner of shiftingthe members it and 20 relative to one another to position either thedistance or reading lenses opposite the lenses of the eye is the same ashas been described above in connection with the first embodiment of theinvention. .v

In Figs.l and 11 a still further modification of the invention is shown,and in those figures the bridge member 23 has vertically extending bars2% having track portions on their inner sides, and vertically spaced,horizontally extending connecting cross-bars 25 and 26-. The nose-padcarrying member 21 is generally similar to the member '6 disclosed inFigs. 1 to '7, and comprises vertically extending bars '28 and thehorizontal bar 29 connecting the outer ends of the bars 28. As is moreclearly shown in Fig. 11, the track formed on the inner sides of thevertically extending bars Mis V-shaped, and the bars 28 have their outersides correspondingly V-shaped to fit within thetrack of the bars 24.

The inner sides of the vertical bars 28 of the member 271 are preferablygrooved to receive a reinforcing spring member 30, which normally urgedthe bars 28 into frictional engagement with the track portions of thebars 24, with suflicient friction to normally maintain the members 23and 2! in any position to which they may be shifted.

The invention has been particularly described in connection withspectacles, but it is to be understood that it might apply equally aswell to eyeglasses, which do not have temple bars for the term nose padsis used in a broad sense to define those parts of the eyeglasses orspectacles,

regardless of their particular structure, which,

said second member comprising a pair of vertically extending parts, across-bar connecting said vertically extending parts and a partvertically spaced from said cross-bar and extending from one verticallyextending part towards 5 the other vertically extending part, saidpadcarrying member having a cross-bar connecting the pad-carrying partsand positioned between the cross-bar and the vertically spaced part ofthe second membenwhereby the cross-bar of the pad-carrying member andeither the cross-bar or the vertically spaced part of the second membermay be pinched towards each other to shift the second memberinto eitherof its positions of adjustment.

2. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridge memberhaving pad portions adapted to bear against opposite sides of the noseand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles upon the face of the wearer,and a second bridge memher connected to the respective lenses andslidable vertically with respect to'said pad-carrying member to an upperand a lower position, said second member comprising a pair of verticallyextending parts, a cross-bar connecting said vertically extending partsand a part vertically spaced from said cross-bar and extending from onevertically extending part towards the other vertically extending part,said pad-carrying member having a cross-bar connecting the padcarryingparts and positioned between the crossbar and the vertically spacedpart'of the second member, said members bearing frictionally againsteach other with sufficient force to hold lenses, a generally U-shapedbridge member hav- 40 ing pad portions adapted to bear against oppositesides of the nose and to support the eyeglasses or spectacles upon theface of the wearer, and a second bridge member connected to therespective lenses and slidable vertically with respect to said U-shapedmember to an upper and a lower position, said second member having apair of horizontally spaced, vertically extending bars and a pair ofvertically spaced, horizontally extending cross-bars, the cross-bar ofthe U-shaped member being positioned between the horizontally extendingbars of'the second member, whereby the cross-bar of the U-shaped memberand either cross-bar of the second member may be pinched towards "eachother to shift the second member into either of its positions ofadjustment.

4. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridge memberhaving pad portions adapted to bear against opposite sides of the noseretaining the glasses upon the face of the wearer. In this specificationand in the appended claims and to support the eyeglasses or spectaclesupon the face of the wearer and comprising a pair of verticallyextending bars and a connecting cross bar, a second bridge memberconnected to the respective lenses and slidable vertically with re+spect to said pad-carrying member to an upper and a lower position, saidsecond member comprising'a pair of horizontally spaced, verticallyextending ars and a pair of vertically 'spacedk horizonta y extendingbars, the outer sides of the vertically extending bars of thepad-carrying member and the inner sides of the vertically extending barsof the second member having complementary track portions and the trackportions of the two members bearing frictionally against each other withsuflicient force to hold the memsaid members being slidable with respectto one another merely by overcoming the friction be- 1 tween them. 4

5. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridge memberhaving pad portions adapted to bear against opposite sides of the noseand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles on the face of the wearer, asecond bridge member con-,

nected to the respective lenses, 'one of saidmcm- I bers having a pairof vertically extending spring track portions carried thereby and spacedthere from and the other member having portions frictionally engagingsaid spring track portions,

whereby the second member may slide vertically with respect to saidpad-carrying member to an upper and a lower position.

6. In'eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridge memberhaving pad portions adaptedto bear against opposite sides of thenose Iand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles on the nected to therespective lenses, said second member having a pair of, verticallyextending spring track portions carried therebyand spaced therefrom anda pad-carrying member having portions frictionally engaging said springtrack portions, whereby the second member may slide vertically withrespect to said pad-carrying member to an upper and a lower position. 7.In eyeglasses 'or spectacles having lenses, a bridge'member having padportions adapted to bear against opposite sides of the nose and tosupport the eyeglasses or spectacles on the face of the wearer, a secondbridge member connected to the respective lenses, saidsecond memberhaving a pair of vertically extending spring from, said spring trackportions having atleast one free end, and thepad-carrying member havingportions "frictionally engaging said spring track portions, whereby thesecond member may slide vertically with respect to said pad-carryingmember to an upper and a lower position.

8. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridge memberhaving pad portions adapted to bear'against opposite sldesof the noseand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles from the face of the wearer,a second bridge member connected to the respective lenses and comprisinga pair of vertically extending bars, a cross-bar connecting saidvertically extending bars and a part vertically spaced from saidcross-bar and extending from one vertically extending bar towards theother "vertically extending bar, and spring track members carried by thevertically extendingbars ofv the second member, said padcarrying memberhaving track portions friction ally engaging the spring track portionsofthe second member and also having a cross-bar connecting thepad-carrying portions positioned between the cross-bar and thevertically spaced part of the second member whereby the cross-bar 7 ofthe pad-carrying member and either the'crossbar or the vertically spacedpart of the second member may be pinched towards each other to cause thespring tracks of the second member to slide with respect to the trackportions of the V pad-carrying member to shift the second member eitherto an upper ora lower position.

\ 9; In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal adapted to bear againstopposite sides of the face of the wearer, a second bridge membercontrack portions carried thereby and spaced there- I cross-bar andextending from one vertically-exlenses, abridge member having padportions second bridge member may be pinched towards ,first mentionedbridge member and either the j a q 2,020,829

member connected to the respective lenses and comprising a pair ofvertically extending bars and a pair of vertically spaced, horizontallyex- .tending cross-bars connecting said vertically ex tending bars,spring track members secured to 5 each of the vertically extending barsof said. second member, the pad-carrying member hav ing portionsirictionally engaging the spring ."track of said second member and alsohaving a cross-bar connecting thepad-carrying parts positioned betweenthe cross-bars of said second member whereby the cross-bar of thepad-carrying, member and either cross-bar of the second member maybe.pinched towards each other to cause the spring tracks of the secondmember'to 5 slide with respect to the pad-carrying member to shift thesecond member either into an upper or a lower position.

10. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses,- a bridge memberhaving pad portions adapted to bear against opposite sides of the noseand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles upon the face of the wearer,a second bridge member having vertically extending bars to which thelenses are secured, said second member 25 also having a cross-barconnecting said verticaly extending bars and a part vertically spacedfrom said cross-bar and extending from at least one vertical bar towardsthe other vertical bar, the pad-carrying portion having. vertically ex-30 tending bars frictlonally engaging the vertically extending bars ofsaid second member and also having a connecting cross-bar positionedbetween.

the cross-ba r and the vertically spaced part of the second member,whereby the cross-bar of 35 the pad-carrying member and either th crossvharm the vertically spaced part ofJthesecond ber to be retained in anyposition of adjustment with respect to the pad-carrying member. ,11. Ineyeglasses or spectacles having bifocal lenses, a bridgemcmbercomprising a pair of vertically-extending parts and a connecting50 cross bar, pad portions carried by the verticallyextending partsadapted to bear against opposite sides of-the nose and to support theeyeglasses .orspectaclcs upon the face of the wearer, a second bridgemember connected to the respective lenses and slidable vertically withrespect to said first-mentioned bridge member to an upper and a lowerposition, said second bridge member comprising a pair of verticallyextending parts frictionally bearing against the vertically-extendingparts of the first-mentioned bridge member, a cross-bar connecting said"vertically-extending parts and a part vertically spaced from saidtending part towards the other vertically-extending part, thecross barof said first-mentioned bridge member being positioned between thecross-bar and'the vertically-spaced part of the I second member, wherebythe cross-bar of the cross-bar or the vertically-spaced part of the eachother to shift the second bridgermember into either of its positions ofadjustment, and. a 7

U shened resilient reinforcing member hoving the legs thereof bearingagainst the inner sides of the vertically-extending parts of the firstbridge member for holding said parts in frictional engagement with thevertically-extending ports of the second bridge member with snfiicientforce to hold the members in either position of eoljustment.

12. In eyeglasses or spectacles having bifocei lenses, a. bridge memberhaving pod portions adopted to bear against opposite sides of the noseand to support the eyeglasses or spectacles upon the face of the wearer,e second bridge member connected to the respective lenses and siidablevertically with respect to said peid corry ing member to an upper and alower position, said second member comprising a, pair ofverticolly-extending parts, n cross-bsr connecting said verticallyextending ports and a part verticelly spaced from said cross-her endextending from one vertically-extending pert towards the otherverticallwerrtending part, said pod csrrying member having at cross-barconnecting the pedcarrying ports and positioned between the crossbar andthe vertically-spaced port of the sec ond member, whereby the cross-baroi the podcasrrying member and either the cross-leer or thevertically-spaced part of the second member may he pinched towards eachother to shift the second member into either of its positions ofadjustment, the vertically-extending parts of the first bridge memberbeing grooved on their inner edges, and a, resilient reinforcing memberhaving parts thereof positioned in said grooves for hoiding thevertically-extending parts of said bridge member in frictionalengagement with the vertically-extending parts of the second bridgemember with sufiicient force to hold the bridge members in eitherposition of adjustment.

ALPHUS G. YOEV

